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Started By
Message
Most Veterans Say Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan Not Worth the Cost
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:44 am
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:44 am
LINK
This question is so much more complicated then simply looking at the issue after the fact. As an Iraq vet, of course I know now that it was not worth it. But if you asked the same people the same question circa 2003-2004, including me, the answer would have been overwhelmingly in favor. The Iraq war was not worth it not necessarily because it was not worth taking out Saddam, but it was our naivety and undefined mission after occupation that made the whole endeavor an utter failure. The lives lost and money spent for that fiasco was absolutely not worth it.
I can't really speak to Afghanistan, but to me the mission always seemed to be kill as many goat herders as possible, but with no real endgame.
quote:
A majority of veterans taking part in a new research study says that the cost and burden of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan outweigh any successes or progress made in either conflict. A Pew Research Center report published Wednesday states that 64% -- or almost two-thirds -- of veterans polled in a new survey said the Iraq war "was not worth fighting," and 58% said the same about the war in Afghanistan.
This question is so much more complicated then simply looking at the issue after the fact. As an Iraq vet, of course I know now that it was not worth it. But if you asked the same people the same question circa 2003-2004, including me, the answer would have been overwhelmingly in favor. The Iraq war was not worth it not necessarily because it was not worth taking out Saddam, but it was our naivety and undefined mission after occupation that made the whole endeavor an utter failure. The lives lost and money spent for that fiasco was absolutely not worth it.
I can't really speak to Afghanistan, but to me the mission always seemed to be kill as many goat herders as possible, but with no real endgame.
30
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:45 am to DevilDagNS
Well no shite
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:45 am to DevilDagNS
Duh
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:45 am to DevilDagNS
quote:
but to me the mission always seemed to be kill as many goat herders as possible
Poliboard wetdream
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:46 am to DevilDagNS
Did two tours in Afghanistan and the same problems existed. Lack of defining missions or end goal of what victory looked like. IMO we would’ve been much better off leaving it to HUMINT on the ground and drones for what was accomplished, namely disrupting terrorism
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:46 am to DevilDagNS
In other news water is wet.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:46 am to DevilDagNS
The thing is the military industrial complex and neocons don't give a shite. They push perpetual, never ending war because it lines their pocket books and for some helps push forward religious based agendas.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:46 am to DevilDagNS
The Russians could have told us that.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:47 am to DevilDagNS
quote:
but to me the mission always seemed to be kill as many goat herders as possible, but with no real endgame.
The endgame was (and is) to disrupt the terrorist organizations to hinder their ability to train, organize and conduct major operations. We left them alone for years and we got 9/11. Now four of them gather around a camp fire and they catch a Hell Fire up the arse.
Not to be simple about it but there is some truth to the people who say "we can fight them over there or we can fight them here."
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:47 am to DevilDagNS
Same can be said about every war since WWII. The military has been pissing away trillions since
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:47 am to InwardJim
quote:
Poliboard wetdream
Most on the political talk board oppose never ending war and hate the concept of being involved in the middle east at all. You should actually try going there sometime instead of believing the false stereotypes the OT/MSB push.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:47 am to DevilDagNS
Good job W and Dick
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:48 am to airlinehwypanhandler
quote:
Most on the political talk board oppose never ending war and hate the concept of being involved in the middle east at all.
Link?
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:49 am to DevilDagNS
quote:
but it was our naivety and undefined mission after occupation that made the whole endeavor an utter failure
Which is why you don't elect morons into office. Too late on that end now.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:49 am to jbgleason
quote:
"we can fight them over there or we can fight them here."
This is pure propaganda the pro-middle east interventionist crowd and neocons push to justify their boondoggles.
What If I told you that our involvement in the Middle East is the best terrorist recruiting tactic possible.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:52 am to DevilDagNS
The decision to invade Iraq after 9/11 was one of the worst foreign/military policy decisions in US history. Thanks a lot Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz/Project for the New American Century!
I don't think anyone has ever known what the actual path out of Afghanistan is, unless they were one of the idiots who thought that a U.S. backed regime would be able to establish firm control over the whole country.
I don't think anyone has ever known what the actual path out of Afghanistan is, unless they were one of the idiots who thought that a U.S. backed regime would be able to establish firm control over the whole country.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:54 am to DevilDagNS
quote:
The Iraq war was not worth it not necessarily because it was not worth taking out Saddam,
Saddam was a despot, but he was a stabilizing force in the region. We play ball with every other shithead over there so the argument he had to be taken out doesn't fly with me.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 10:55 am to airlinehwypanhandler
quote:
What If I told you that our involvement in the Middle East is the best terrorist recruiting tactic possible.
“Why do you hate the soldiers?!! You anti-American commie bastard!! They hate us cuz they hate us!!!!”
Posted on 7/11/19 at 11:00 am to Chuck Barris
quote:
Thanks a lot Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz/Project for the New American Century!
PNAC was pretty openly vocal about needing a "Pearl Harbor" style event to get their agenda off the ground and running. They got their wish with 9/11. It's one major reason why I am open to 9/11 conspiracy theories.
As far as Afghanistan is concerned I think the main reason we are there(and still there) is to control the poppy fields for the CIA's drug running operation.
Posted on 7/11/19 at 11:00 am to DevilDagNS
Most US soldiers that have fought in any war since WW2 would likely say the same thing.
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